05 November 2026

FREE TIMES – Of All Times (2026, CD/Cassette, Self-Released)

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Self-Released

Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition

Format: Cassette, Album, Limited Edition

Release Date: 12 June 2026

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Free Times emerged from the local psychedelic underground, previously operating under the name Free Moontime Band. The six-piece brings together Garrett Luczak (guitar and vocals), Eric Scholin (guitar), Mark Jacob (bass), Bill Myers (keyboards), Steve Howe (drums and percussion), and Adam Szmelter (saxophone). Their musical language draws from psychedelic rock, kosmische music, and extended instrumental explorations, with a particular affection for the loose, spontaneous spirit of American psychedelic jam culture.

Their recorded journey includes “Melting Leaf” (2021), “Jug Bug” (2023), their self-titled debut full-length “Free Times” (2023), and “Live From Chicago” (2025). The band has steadily developed its sound through a combination of studio recordings and live performances, maintaining an independent approach to both music-making and releasing records. With “Of All Times” (2026), they return with six new compositions, recorded to half-inch tape in Room #313 during 2025, once again bringing their collective musical instincts together with a curious little twist concerning its title: while the physical CD and cassette editions carry the name “Of All Times”, the digital Bandcamp release appears as “Off All Times”. A small discrepancy, perhaps, but one worth mentioning for those of us who like to keep our record shelves and discographies in order! Whatever the correct spelling of the title, Free Times invite us to leave the clock behind and let the music decide where we’re heading.

Somewhere between the free-flowing spirit of the Grateful Dead, the ragged electric energy of Neil Young & Crazy Horse and the hypnotic repetition of krautrock, Free Times create their own loose, organic brand of psychedelic rock.

“Of All Times” contains just 6 tracks. The album opens with “Earthquake”, immediately setting things in motion with a tribal, funky rhythm, before some exceptional groovy electric guitar work takes over. The straight-out vocals, carrying a rather punky attitude, add an interesting edge to the whole thing, while the band’s flirtation with the funkier side of psychedelia and a certain 90s Indie aura gives the track its own distinctive character. “Eugene” takes us into harder rock territory, although without rushing things, relying instead on slightly heavy, psych-drenched guitars and an intense 70s Neil Young & Crazy Horse atmosphere. A cool, old-fashioned ROCK track, deeply rooted in the electric spirit of that glorious decade. Moving on, “Ode To Bob & Jerry” blends funk with a blues-rock feel, as the funky keyboards lead the way and a groovy saxophone adds a warm, almost cozy touch to the ride, making this one a rather relaxing little excursion.

“Head Spread” begins with some loose, abstract drumming before a heavenly, soothing saxophone enters the picture, accompanied by a dreamy electric guitar melody. The result is a beautiful, balladesque moment, offering a welcome change of pace without losing the album’s psych character. But things become particularly interesting with “Tape Runout”, probably my favorite track here. A soft, slow drumbeat sets the foundations for a loose, late-night, almost hypnotic atmosphere, while the dreamy, psych-flirting guitar sound brings to mind some of the Grateful Dead’s late-80s recordings. The almost lysergic, trippy reciting vocals, the electric guitar effects and the distinctive saxophone and keyboard sounds lurking in the background all contribute to an irresistibly floating atmosphere, with a late-60s jam spirit running through its veins. And then comes the magnificent title track, “Of All Times”, another definite highlight and perhaps the album’s most adventurous moment. Opening with a drum machine pattern, the piece slowly unfolds as the electric guitar enters, gradually transforming into a brilliant, extended improvisational ROCK jam with a rather heavy attitude. The guitar becomes increasingly hallucinogenic and trippy, before turning extremely heavy and screaming, spreading generous amounts of ACID into the atmosphere. Then, almost as if opening another door in time, the whole thing dives deep into a late-60s Grateful Dead musical landscape, allowing the improvisation to breathe and wander freely before eventually returning to the same drum machine sound that started the journey. Awesome stuff!

Free Times deliver a wonderfully loose and unpredictable psych journey, where vintage American rock, funky grooves and lysergic improvisations find common ground. “Of All Times” is not about chasing trends or reinventing the wheel; it’s about keeping the spirit of free-flowing ROCK alive. And sometimes, that’s more than enough. Keep the tape rolling! Dig! TimeLord Michalis